Do I need a Catalytic Converter or not???

[85MudMonster]

What's the requirements on Cats. I live in a non-emissions state and my truck's an '85, I want to run dual exhaust with no cats and cherry bomb mufflers. Can I do that or am I supposed to keep the Cats?

[frogman68]

You are suppose to keep em

BUT since you dont have emissions I would toss em..

[85MudMonster]

Any other inputs?

Because I couldn't find the EPA regulation that sates what year models are exempt from Cats, I was thinking it started in like 1986 but I'm not sure.

[bigblue09]

if you dont have emissions then i dont think you have to have them. thats all thats keeping mine on. i would toss it.

[murraygmc]

OK then do you have to even have to have a muffler whats  the point if you don't have emissions test ?  other than being just plain loud 

[VileZambonie]

If it came from the factory with a catalytic converter it should have one. If you have no emissions testing then don't worry about it.

[85MudMonster]

OK then do you have to even have to have a muffler whats  the point if you don't have emissions test ?  other than being just plain loud 

Pretty much.

okay one other question about this. Say I remove the Cat and drive through a state that requires them (Say Ohio), will I get in trouble or could I get in trouble for not having one?

[choptop]

Here in West Texas,(and probably the rest of the state) you have to have them if the vehicle came with them. We dont have emissions testing, but they look for them when doing an inspection. They dont look for the smog pump, just the cat, cold air inlet tube, stock type snorkel aircleaner, and that stupid little heat riser tube. I couldnt get Old yellers truck inspected the last time because it didnt have the stock aircleaner on it. It wouldnt fit with the new engine, so I had to put an open element aircleaner on it. Doesnt matter, we will be getting classic tags for it so no more inspections. As far as the heat riser tube, it has to be there even if you have headers,but I dont have to worry about cats because when it came out in 81 it didnt have them because it was a 3/4 ton. Most of the cats running around here on these trucks are gutted anyway.
   As far as getting a ticket for not having them, I have never seen a Trooper check for emmision components, so I doubt it unless he is being a jerk. If its too loud, that may be a different story.I dont know.

[Lt.Del]

It all depends on your state or municipality.
In Va, we do not need mufflers. 
In Va, if the truck came with a cat, for annual safety inspections, it has to have one on it.
There is no emissions testing, but, you won't get your annual sticker if it has no cat and it came with it.

My 79 has two cats (duals) and NO mufflers.  And it passes every time.

Check your state codes!

[85MudMonster]

In louisiana if it looks sort of like a car/truck then it's legal to drive...I mean the last inspection I had on the truck was like this:

"turn on the lights", "now the hazards", "put it in reverse", "okay it's good"....

[bigblue09]

haha. thats how it is in georgia other than emissions. if you have lights turn signals and a tag your good to go.

[Irish_Alley]

i know in MD and DE if the vehicle came with a cat it must always be on but what can be done is eather put a cat shell on a strait pipe making a fake cat or just punch one out, the second option to me make a lil deeper sound so its the one i go with

[85MudMonster]

okay, well for what I want to do with the exhaust there's not room for cats, so they're gone...

[78 Chevyrado]

Federal law is that you can't remove any emissisons equipment.  However if they don't check you for it they'll never know and if they should change the state laws later it's not hard or expensive to add the bullet-type cats later.  It's not like if they catch you they'll take your ride and crush it.  Barrow County GA doesn't have emissions either and I've never had a problem even running straight pipes.

[bigblue09]

yea. i live in henry county ga and we are so close to atlanta we have to have emissions so i have to have cats till it is considered an antique.